Welcome to wns

New Family Information

We can't wait to see you!

Welcome to WNS! We are so excited to have you join us. We recognize that schools admit not only students but families as well, and we believe yours will be a wonderful addition to the WNS community.

We understand that joining a new school community can be a big transition, and we will help to make that transition as seamless as possible. This webpage contains information and resources to help guide you as you begin your WNS journey.

Mid-summer, you will receive a password giving you access to OnCampus, our school password-protected website. There, you will find information about lunch service options, Parent/Caregiver Group activities, the Parent/Caregiver Handbook, and other information that will help you and your child prepare for the new school year. Until then, this is your information hub.

Table of Contents

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Welcome Video

Welcome to WNS!

We have a lot of people who are excited to meet you! Take a look and see who you’ll get to know when you arrive!

2025-26 Calendar

We call this quick-reference calendar the At-A-Glance calendar. Feel free to bookmark or download and print it out. These dates are unlikely to change, but if they do, families will receive an email regarding the change. 

Click here

Upcoming Events & Save the Dates

We have a number of events leading up to the start of next school year that are intended to be informative, fun, and welcoming. We hope you’ll attend as many as feasible for you and your family! 

“Litchella” – A WNS Celebration of Books: Sunday, April 13, 11:00am – 2pm

WNS and the WNS Parent Group present “Litchella”, a day of literary-themed fun for the whole family. With food, music, a middle school open mic, readathon, story-time in the garden, book swap, and more!  

Welcome Reception for Parents of New Students: Tuesday, May 13, 6pm – 7:30pm

Please save the date and join us to mingle and connect with other parents/caregivers of new students! We will make introductions to key members of our community and provide information about the coming school year! There will be drinks and hors d’oeuvres served. Please note, this is an adults-only event. RSVP here. 

ECC Family Social: Saturday, May 31, 9:00am – 10:30am

Please mark your calendar for a morning of fun and connection at the WNS Early Childhood Center! All families of new and returning preschool & DK students are invited. Siblings are welcome! RSVP here. 

ECC Open House: Tuesday, May 20, 2:30pm – 4:00pm 

Our annual open house event at the ECC is a wonderful opportunity for parents to immerse themselves in their child’s classroom and celebrate what they’ve accomplished over the past year. We’re inviting our newly enrolled families to join us and see what’s in store for your student in the school year ahead!

All School Block Party: Sunday, August 24

Come celebrate the start of the school year at our block party kick-off with activities, food, and lots of friends. More information to come!

ECC Playdates: Wednesday, August 27 (AM)

This is a casual opportunity to bring your child to visit their classroom and meet their teachers the day before school starts. This will be in the morning and times will be sent in August.

ECC Start of School Kick-off Zoom: Wednesday, August 27 (PM)

ECC parents are invited to join us for a short zoom (45mins – 1 hour) on the evening of August 27th to go over start-of-school logistics and ask any questions you may have. More information coming soon. 

ECC FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Thursday, August 28 

Preschool & DK will open the school year on Thursday, August 28. The first day of school is a minimum day (half day).

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“Litchella” – A WNS Celebration of Books: Sunday, April 13, 11:00am – 2pm

WNS and the WNS Parent Group present “Litchella”, a day of literary-themed fun for the whole family. With food, music, a middle school open mic, readathon, story-time in the garden, book swap, and more!

Welcome Reception for Parents of New Students: Tuesday, May 13, 6pm – 7:30pm

Please save the date and join us to mingle and connect with other parents/caregivers of new students. We will make introductions to key members of our community and provide information about the coming school year! There will be drinks and hors d’oeuvres served. Please note, this is an adults-only event. RSVP here. 

Get Your Student Ready for Kindergarten: Wednesday, May 21, 12pm – 1pm 

Many parents wonder what skills will serve their child best in kindergarten at WNS. This Zoom workshop will cover kindergarten essential skills, what to work on over the summer, and tips to help your child prepare to transition to “big school.”RSVP Here.

K-8 Open House: Thursday, May 22, 6:00pm – 8:30pm 

Open House is an annual event that takes place near the end of each school year where we open the doors to WNS in the evening for families to celebrate the accomplishments of their students. We are inviting newly enrolled families to join us, meet the faculty, and see what your student has in store! 

Kindergarten Family Social: Saturday, May 31, 10:00am – 11:30am

Please mark your calendar for a morning of fun where you can play and meet new friends! This gathering will be held on the WNS main yard at 5401 Beethoven Street. RSVP here! 

Host Students for New Students

In late spring, we will pair each new student in grades K-8 with a host student/family or small group of students (pod). This will allow our new elementary school families opportunities to connect over the summer more intimately before the start of school.

All School Block Party: Sunday, August 24

Come celebrate the start of the school year at our block party kick-off with activities, food, and lots of friends. More information to come!

K-4 Classroom Drop in Time: Tuesday, August 26

This is an optional casual visit with your child to see their classroom and meet their teachers the day before school starts. Times will be sent in August.

5th Grade Meet & Greets (Zoom): Tuesday, August 26

Rising 5th grade families will an optional opportunity to connect with teachers one on one before the first day of school. A sign up sheet will be sent in August.

K-5 Start of School Kick-off Zoom: Tuesday, August 26 (PM)

Parents are invited to join us for a short zoom (45 mins – 1 hour) on the evening of August 26th to go over start-of-school logistics and answer any questions you might have. 

K-8 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Wednesday, August 27 

K-8 will open on Wednesday, August 27. The first day of school is a minimum day (half day).

Global Studies Informational Meeting: Wednesday, March 26, 7pm 

Students currently in grades 5-7 are invited to join us in summer 2026 for these educational travel experiences to Panama and Costa Rica! All details will be covered at our informational meeting. 
 
Password: wnsjets

 

“Litchella” – A WNS Celebration of Books: Sunday, April 13, 11:00am – 2pm

WNS and the WNS Parent Group present “Litchella”, a day of literary-themed fun for the whole family. With food, music, a middle school open mic, readathon, story-time in the garden, book swap, and more!

 Welcome Reception for Parents of New Students: Tuesday, May 13, 6pm – 7:30pm

Please save the date and join us to mingle and connect with other parents/caregivers of new students. We will make introductions to key members of our community and provide information about the coming school year! There will be drinks and hors d’oeuvres served. Please note, this is an adults-only event. RSVP here. 

K-8 Open House: Thursday, May 22, 6:00pm – 8:30pm 

Open House is an annual event that takes place near the end of each school year where we open the doors to WNS in the evening for families to celebrate the accomplishments of their students. We are inviting newly enrolled families to join us, get to meet the faculty, and see what your student has in store! 

Rising 6th Grade Parent/Caregiver Meeting: Tuesday, May 27, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Join us on campus for our Class of 2028 Middle School Transition Meeting (adults only). More information and an invitation will follow.

Host Students for New Students

In late spring, we will pair each new student in grades K-8 with a host student/family or small group of students (pod). This will allow our new middle school families opportunities to connect over the summer more intimately before the start of school.

All School Block Party: Sunday, August 24

Come celebrate the start of the school year at our block party kick-off with activities, food, and lots of friends. More information to come. 

6-8 Meet and Greets (Zoom): Monday, August 25

This is an optional opportunity for a chance to connect with teachers one on one before the first day of school. A sign up sheet will be sent in August.

All 6th and New 7th Student Orientation – Tuesday, August 26

There’s lots to learn about middle school! This two and a half hour orientation will give our middle schoolers a leg up on what they need to know for a successful start to the school year.

6th-8th Start of School Kick-off Zoom: Tuesday, August 26

Parents are invited to join us on the evening of August 26th for a short zoom (45 mins – 1 hour) to go over start-of-school logistics for the next day and ask any questions. 

K-8 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Wednesday, August 27

K-8 will open on Wednesday, August 27. The first day of school is a minimum day (half day).

ECC (Preschool & DK) Required Licensing Forms

Please note, forms for the ECC (Early Childhood Center) are due by June 2, 2025 and should be submitted via the submission button below. 

Click here to download forms
Click here to submit completed forms

Kindergarten - 8th Grade Required Medical Forms

Please note, forms for K-8 are due by June 2nd, 2025 and should be submitted via the submission button below, or via email to Enjolie Gray at healthservices@wns-la.org. They can also be scanned and mailed to WNS, addressed to Enjolie Gray. 

Review required immunizations
Click here to access Report of Health Examination for School Entry Form
Click here to submit forms

Class Placement Information

Dear New WNS Families,

We are excited to welcome your child to WNS in the fall! As we look toward next year, we’re committed to nurturing each child’s growth. With that in mind, we’d like to share a bit about how we approach the thoughtful process of creating new class sections at WNS.

PROCESS FOR CREATING CLASS SECTIONS

At WNS, we approach creating class sections with great care and collaboration. It begins with our faculty discussing student placement and forming preliminary groupings thoughtfully in May. Over the following months, the student support team, specialist teachers, and administration carefully review and refine these groupings. The administration makes final placement decisions, keeping the best interests of each child in mind.

We value family input as an important part of this process. If you have anything you’d like to share to help us understand your child’s learning needs, please complete this form by May 5. Submitting the form is entirely optional, and you are not expected to do so. To help guide your input, we ask that you focus on the type of learning environment that best supports your child’s growth. We’re not able to accommodate requests for specific teachers or classmates.

It is also important to note that in grades K-5, students are grouped differently throughout the day and week. They encounter different classmates and teachers through reading and math groups (K-5) and specialist groups (4-5). In middle school, unique groups exist for math, Spanish, advisory, and electives. In other words, students transition among various groups throughout the day.

Class lists will be shared with families a few days before the All School Block Party on Sunday, August 24. We truly appreciate you taking the time to learn more about our class placement process and being thoughtful partners in your child’s journey. As always, WNS remains committed to a placement process that is respectful, intentional, and centered on what’s best for each student.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership—we’re excited to enjoy the rest of the school year together and look ahead to what’s next.

Respectfully,

Kelly Massey, Director of Grades ECC-K 
Tasha Jackson-Jones, Director of Grades 1-4
Kaitlin Rodriquez, Director of Grades 5-8

Westside Summer Program

We are so excited for the 2025 Westside Summer Program! Available for ECC and K-8 students, the summer program offers transitional courses to support students in preparing for the new school year, along with summer fun!

This year, the summer program will run for three weeks, from July 7 – July 25, 2025. 

The registration for the WNS Summer Program will open in April. 

Learn More

Global Studies Program

The WNS Global Studies Program offers students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to take an immersive and educational trip – typically to a Spanish-speaking country – over the summer. Past trips have included: Panama, Peru, Spain, and Portugal!

While abroad, students and chaperones are led by an expert team assembled by EF Tours, a world leader in educational student travel.

In 2026, we are heading to Panama and Costa Rica!

We are hosting an informational meeting for families who are interested in learning more (details below):

  • Date: Wednesday, March 26
  • Time: 7pm
  • Location: Zoom!
  • Password: wnsjets
  • Information covered: itinerary, activities, dates, academic opportunities, cost, and EF’s risk-free enrollment period.

Questions? Email our Global Studies coordinator Meaghan Mihalic at mmihalic@wns-la.org. 

Tuition Insurance and Billing Information

Below are links related to tuition that we hope you’ll find useful as you get acclimated and acquainted with the school. Feel free to bookmark or return to this page. 

Tuition Refund Plan (Insurance)
Finalsite Enrollment Parent Portal

Expenses Beyond Tuition

Learn more about additional costs, including optional services such as Hot Lunch, After Class Enrichment (ACE), and the WNS morning bus service. 

Learn More

CUP Traffic Protocols & School Hours

An overview of school hours, pickup and dropoff times, the WNS rules of the road, and more. 

Learn More

WNS Spirit Wear

WNS has a small spirit gear service! The are fully online and managed through the website vendor. Items purchased here can be worn for PE, on field trips, as well as every day! We hope you enjoy the options. 

Clothing Store
Hat Store

Summer Reading Lists

Kindergarten Reading Lists

Coming Soon

Rising 1st Grade

Coming Soon

Rising 2nd Grade

Coming Soon

Rising 3rd Grade

Coming Soon

Rising 4th Grade

Coming Soon

Rising 5th Grade

Coming Soon

Rising Middle School Summer Reading

Coming Soon

FAQs

Early Childhood Center drop off and pickup times are staggered and occur between 8:30 am – 9:00 am and 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm, respectively. Early drop-off for the ECC (free of charge) begins at 7:30am. 

For kindergarten through eighth grade, our school day begins at 8:15 am, with drop-off starting at 7:30 am. Dismissal times occur between 2:45 pm and 3:35 pm, depending on the grade level.

WNS offers early and late care through our ACE (After Class Enrichment) Program for all students Preschool-8. Early drop-off (free of charge) for ECC-8th students begins at 7:30 am. Late pick-up (for a fee) for all students extends until 5:30 pm.

For students 4 years and older, WNS offers morning bus service. For 2024-25, the bus routes serviced the following areas every day (please note, these routes and times are subject to change for 2025-26): 

East Route (Inglewood/ Ladera Heights)

  • Regent & Market  (CVS Parking lot) – 7:10am pickup , 7:15am departure
  • Windsor Hills Elementary (East side of the school)- 7:25am pickup, 7:30am departure 
  • Ladera Park – La Brea & 62nd (Yvonne B Burke Senior & Community Center) – 7:35am pickup, 7:40am departure

South Route (South Bay/ Playa del Rey)

  • Aviation and PCH – Trader Joes Parking Lot (Redondo Beach) – 7am pick up, 7:05 departure
  • Pacific Elementary (Manhattan Beach) – 7:25am pick up, 7:30am departure 

Forming a carpool or riding the WNS morning bus is one of the best things you can do to help our school as well as reduce your carbon footprint!

The cost for the bus service is $1200 per student for students riding up to five days a week or $750 per student for students riding three days a week or less (support available for students receiving financial assistance).

All new families will have the opportunity to connect with other incoming families in their grades at the Welcome Reception for Parents of New Students (5/13/25).

New families to the Early Childhood Center (preschool & DK) are invited to the ECC Family Social (5/31/25), where all new and returning ECC families can come together to play and connect.  

Kindergarten families will be placed in pods of 6-8 kids which will plan to connect a few times over the summer. Kindergarten families will also connect with other new families at the Kindergarten Family Social (5/31/25). 
 
Students in grades 1-8 will be assigned a host family. The role of a host family is to help integrate a new family into our community, scheduling 2-3 playdates over the summer, and answering any questions they may have.
 
There are numerous other opportunities for connection listed in our events section above, many which are just for new families and others which are for the entire school community. We hope to see you at as many as possible!
 
Our summer program in July is a great way to meet current and new WNS families.

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WNS is pleased to offer families the option to order delicious and healthy lunches during the school year for all grades Preschool-8 through the Organic Kids LA program. Ordering and payment is convenient through their simple, secure online system and must be done so in advance. Their program uses natural, local, and organic ingredients whenever possible, and all poultry and dairy products are antibiotic- and hormone-free. To maintain their commitment to being kind to the environment, their program uses 100% recyclable and compostable packaging.

In the Early Childhood Center, snacks are provided for all students. In grades K-8, students bring their own snacks from home.

WNS provides laptops for students starting in 3rd grade. In grades 3-5, students use Chromebooks which they leave at school. In grades 6-8, students use Macbooks which they take home. WNS keeps a supply of iPads for students in grades K-2.

We can't wait to see you!